Remediation of ozone depletion by atmospheric electrical charging: The importance of laboratory testing

Abstract

The removal of ozone destroying atomic chlorine or its reservoirs by atmospheric electrical charging is reviewed for three different heights and regimes. Atmospheric electrification provides electrons which can attach to chlorine atoms of high electron affinity, inhibiting its catalytic destruction of ozone. In one scheme electrons are emitted from an isolated photocathode platform by either a closed circuit current configuration or the concurrent release of positively charged water droplets. Two other remediation schemes are described to illustrate the diversity of electrical charging. Laboratory testing can verify measuring equipment for ion composition and validate remediation concepts. It also offers a check on computer modeling. We also respond to comments ofViggiano et al. [Science 267 (1995) 82] regarding practicality of our ozone mitigation scheme.